Where did the summer go?

Yes, I know that most of my posts here on this blog are about political, economic issues, but today, I wanted to talk a little with you about an "a-ha" moments that smacked me in the head.

During the campaign, the kids are always involved in one capacity or another and we spend a lot of time together during the summer.  Then it hit me that soon, school starts and I won't have them so close all the time.

And the commercials for back-to-school sales are beginning.  It marks the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year.  Exciting, but sad at the same time.

Academics are important in my home and my kids know this.  My wife, Lisa, and I do our best to make academics fun and entertaining but we have pretty high standards.  It wasn't easy getting into the Naval Academy and my kids understand the importance of an education.  But they also know that I cherish every moment we spend together doing "fun stuff" like going to the water park, seeing a movie, or playing basketball in the driveway.

You probably already know this, but it's still important to note:  Spend as much time as you can with the kids because before you know it, they'll be back in school.


Dave

Dave's Primary Predictions

Though I am new to the political insider processes, I am quite familiar with the Oklahoma political candidates and thought I would share with you some of my prognostications for this evening.  I have found some of the races to be very interesting, others, not so much.  Remember - these are not necessarily my votes, but my predictions.  Starting at the top of the ticket...

GOVERNOR
(GOP)
I predict Congresswoman Mary Fallin to win the nomination without a runoff.  Senator Brogdon has run an aggressive campaign and his volunteers have been intensely supportive and they have done a great job in getting yard signs out. 
(Democratic)
Lt. Governor Askins has been working exceptionally hard, but Attorney General Drew Edmondson will win in what I predict will be a particularly close race, seeing Askins carry much of rural Oklahoma.

LT. GOVERNOR
(GOP)
Without much effort, State Senator Todd Lamb will win and face Democratic State Senator Kenneth Corn.

STATE AUDITOR & INSPECTOR
(GOP)
Gary Jones, former Republican State Party Chair, will squeak out a victory in this primary because a lot of people remember his promise not to run for State Auditor, but also know that he played a major role in ousting the Democratic trouble-maker Jeff McMahan.

ATTORNEY GENERAL
(GOP)
Scott Pruitt will win in a very close race against the son-in-law of former Oklahoma Governor-turned lobbyist Frank Keating. 

FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL RACE
(GOP)
This is obviously a fun race because whomever wins will have to face me in November and that is something I can assure you they are not looking forward to.  My favorite candidates are obvious:  Dr. Roy, Rick Flanigan and James Lankford.  Why?  Because they are not your typical candidates for public office.  They are not attorneys, they are not career politicians and provide a fresh insight for voters.  Roy and Rick are business owners, they understand the nuance of running a business and that, my friends, are what we need in Washington (which is why I am running).

I fully suspect that Kevin Calvey will find himself in a runoff with James Lankford.  And yes, I look forward to facing either of them in the general election this November.

This is going to be a great evening.  Let's enjoy it.

Primary Information

I've been receiving a considerable amount of email from my friends and supporters about the Primary tomorrow and to clarify, my name will not be on the ballot in Oklahoma tomorrow as Indpendent candidates do not have a primary or runoff in Oklahoma.

Which is, in my opinion, rather sad.  Oklahoma should have open ballot access, but the oligarchy within the two-party system that claims to "love free market competition," doesn't do so when they have had the opportunity to put their money where their mouths are.

So, tomorrow evening, my wife and I are hosting a Watch Party at my home and you're invited to attend as we watch the Primary results and see whether I will have a clear opponent come November 2, or if there will be a runoff.  Either way, I'll be on the ballot in November and you can also rest assured that this will be an election cycle both establishment candidates will never forget.

Here is the invitation:

Primary Watch Party

I Told You So: Economy

When the economic destruction of Greece took place, it was a warning shot across the global bow of every industrialized nation to pay close attention to debt ratios. When I discussed this issue previously on this blog, on Facebook and on one of my videos, there were those who could have never imagined that somehow, these problems taking place thousands of miles away might have a larger impact.

I hate to say it, but I told you.
The news broke today that sure enough, Ireland has been downgraded by top credit rating agency, Moody's. Ireland's credit rating was downgraded from AAA to AA2 because of their national debt and weak economic forecast. Ireland has steadily lost financial strength and countries like Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain all trade together extensively and it's no secret how they borrow from one another extensively so when one card in the house of cards falls, they all are in danger.

Does this sound even remotely familiar?

Our national debt is soaring, our economic forecast isn't much better at this point than that of Ireland and with increased federal regulation, more litigation and higher taxation in the future, our prospects do not look as bright as they could be. It's time to act and we must act now.

I am fully confident in the American people and the American dream. I've lived the American dream and without question, we are made of the right "stuff" to get the job done. We have to take action sooner rather than later and this November, we will have the opportunity to do just that.

It's not lost on anyone that our federal government is leading us down the wrong path. Whether it be intrusive laws or increased regulation, our federal government is spending more than it takes in and it creates a problem for us, for our children and for our grandchildren. But not all is lost just yet - we have to be more careful in who we elect and send to Congress.

We have to reduce our spending immediately. And that means we're going to have to sacrifice where some of our pet projects are concerned. We have to focus spending on things that help business, not hurt business. For example, rather than wasting taxpayer dollars on projects like Obamacare, we need to look at critical infrastructure. Roads and bridges must be a priority so job creators can have a delivery system that is consistent and reliable. And I'm not talking about Ted Steven's little bridge to nowhere either.

We must reduce some of the burdensome regulation on small business as well. We need people in Congress who understand what it means to own a business, to create jobs. Small business is the engine to our success and we need to support small business, not tie their hands. We need to immediately make it legal for small businesses to cross state lines to purchase insurance for their employees.

I am optimistic that by November 2nd, you'll see that we need the triple-threat in Washington to accomplish great things. We need someone with a record of job creation, a record of fiscal conservatism and the strength of character not to bow to the whims of special interest. And I am that triple threat.

If you've had the chance to review my website, DaveWhite2010.com, you know that my record of leadership is very unique and I have to confess, diving into the mess that has become of our federal government isn't exactly my idea of a day at the park with the kids. It's hard work that will require skill, experience and the freedom to make decisions that are based on real world experience and not hyperbole extracted from a consultant's talking points memo.

I'll be following this story very closely and giving you much-needed updates throughout the week.
Thank you.

Dave

Listen to the podcast below...

Dave Talks About Ireland's Moody Rating

Meet and Greet Fun Conclusion

Voters are angry...here are my thoughts.

Meet and Greet Fun Continued...

The meet and greet was exceptionally fun and here is part two of three, where we discussed the issue of illegal immigration:

Meet and Greet Fun

I love these meet and greet opportunities.  We get together, talk about the issues facing Americans and Oklahomans and determine how we solve these problems.

Here is the first segment of three from a meet and greet we held on July 10.

Humble Beginnings, Humble Existence

"To those that much is given, much will be required."  The Scriptures ring true to every single one of us and I remember my youth, my early adulthood and how difficult times were.  I literally started my companies with nothing but a dream and a vision.  To say that I had humble beginnings are the understatement of the century but as things improved and I chased the American Dream, I have not forgotten my beginnings.  It keeps me humble and reminds me that with my success in business and my career, I take nothing for granted and I know that the Creator expects a lot from me.

One of the reasons I have decided to run for Congress as an Independent conservative, independent of special interest money, is because I know that during these difficult times, there are countless people who are struggling financially but want to be engaged in the process.  Some candidates for public office give lip service to the people who may only be able to contribute $50 or $100 to their campaigns, but not me.  Those are the people I want on my team because that is who I am as a person.  I believe that every voter in the 5th District should have a voice and a leader in Washington they know they can contact and not have to get to the back of the line behind the GOP and Democratic power brokers.

Coming from nothing teaches you that every person, every moment has value.  The government is supposed to be by and for the people, not ignore the real working people.  With each passing day, more and more people become engaged in the process, they feel real anger and angst about where our government is headed and as they watch the numerous campaign commercials on television, they see that they are being spoon-fed rhetoric that has been sanitized for their protection and all of the candidates are starting to look the same.

They are certainly all saying the same things, aren't they?

It's true, I'm debt-free and I want my children to be debt-free as well.  Wouldn't it make sense that as a goal, our government should be debt free?  And I don't just mean financially.  Some candidates for Congress have amassed a huge debt in running their campaigns for Congress because they consider it an investment in the best job they have ever had.  For me, I look at it as a call of duty.  A call of duty to remind all of the candidates that they are no better than the people they want to serve and it means that the constituents should not be judged because of their income or what kind of car they drive. 

Much has been given this great nation and right now, much is being required.  It's time to put aside all this ridiculous rhetoric and look closely at the candidates and see whether or not they have a legitimate record of leadership.  Most, unfortunately, do not.  They have forgotten their roots, and are now begging for a job.  They NEED this job.  I don't.  I want this opportunity to serve, to move our nation back to where it came from - back to a time when government was held accountable.  Now is the time for the Dave White Revolution.  Be a part.

Dave

Debt of Gratitude

Last evening, we hosted a second meet and greet at my home and it's funny how things work out.  What started as a dozen or so confirmations, ended up seeing about 75 people in my home, talking about politics, issues of the day and my candidacy for Congress.

There were some great questions, excellent exchange of ideas and what was most exciting was the diversity of people in attendance.  There were insurance agents, mechanics, housewives, retired military, former federal judges and even a school teacher.  It's humbling to see the looks on their faces when they realize that I am what I say I am and that I do what I say I will do.

With each passing day, more and more people are getting on board the Dave White Revolution to take back our Congress and how we elect members to Congress.

Again, thank you to all who attended and yes, there will be plenty more of these events to come.

Dave

Lack of Leadership: Oil Spill

President Obama and in my opinion, the fundraisers we have elected to Congress, have shown no leadership whatsoever.  Here is a video for you to review and think about...do we need more fundraisers?  Do we need more people who talk out of both sides of their mouths in Congress?

Oil Spill Timeline from RightChange on Vimeo.

What Did Tom Coburn Say?

Today was a Town Hall meeting with United States Senator Tom Coburn and it was an eye-opening experience.  Coburn covered myriad of topics and answered a lot of questions from the audience, including a question from yours truly – which we will discuss in a moment.

Coburn discussed the economy at the beginning and went on to talk about spending as the cause of our problems coupled with excessive taxes.  This is something I have been talking about for years now and as a business owner, I know first-hand how difficult excessive taxation can be to the bottom line.

Responding to a question from the audience concerning what the “Republicans” were going to do when they take back Congress this November to fix some of the problems we’re facing, he said he thought that was a faulty assumption and that he was not so sure the Republicans would have control come next session.  Furthermore, he said that politicians (Republicans and Democrats) make a lot of promises, but when they get to Washington, they forget about those promises and worry about getting reelected. 

Someone asked him about the war and referenced both Afghanistan and Iraq.  Coburn said that they are two separate issues and that it seems the President has said we will be out of Iraq in 2011.  He described Afghanistan as needed linking it to Al Qaeda saying we need to go to the source.  The questioner argued that none of our recent terrorists have been from Afghanistan to which Coburn replied that they might not be “from there” but that they likely trained there and that the leaders are hiding out there.  He pointed out how Afghanistan borders Pakistan and other pivotal terrorist nations. 

When asked about Immigration Coburn stated that “the glue that holds us together is the Rule of Law” (RoL).  He went on to say that when we disregard the RoL, we dismantle the confidence of the RoL.  He clearly stated that in order to control immigration we have to secure the borders (again, something I have argued from the beginning of this campaign), when he was asked if he would support a law similar to Mexico’s immigration law he emphatically said he would.  He felt amnesty was wrong for any reason and that both President Obama and President Bush had failed and refused to secure our borders had allowed the problem to become intensified.  He felt Arizona should be allowed to do what they needed to protect their state and that the federal government needs to enforce the laws it has.  He went on to say that the Balkanization of America should not be allowed to happen and that America is not about a race or an ethnicity – it’s about the RoL.

When speaking of the serious issues facing our nation, specifically the economy he said that the problem is the politicians in DC.  That nearly 70% of those in Congress have never done anything but work in politics and have no real experience.  Going on to say that career politicians are killing our country.  Coburn described how he is a citizen first and a legislator second, that those in DC often have no clue what the real world issues are.  Does this sound familiar?  Coburn described, in these short sentences, the problems that I will repair when elected to Congress.  Most of the candidates for Oklahoma’s 5th District are emblematic of the problems Coburn describes.  There is no question that we have more career politicians than we know what to do with and now, they are trying to paint themselves as “businessmen” but we all know that they can’t fool us with their slick rhetoric.

When speaking about the budget and pay raises in DC he said Congress last had a raise in 2008 but that they should be given NO new raises or cost of living adjustments until they fix the problems and have a balanced budget.  He said that the average government employee’s salary is one and a half times that of the average household income for Oklahomans.

Coburn said that he supports the concept that ONLY those who can vote for you should be able to donate to a campaign (which is what I have done with my campaign and will continue to do).

Over-reaching Federal Government...Again

As if we didn't already have enough lawyers in Washington, D.C., the federal government again underscores why enough is enough.  Today, the Department of Justice has filed suit against Arizona as well as Governor Janice Brewer because of the "controversial" immigration law.

The problem is that right now, there are too darned many lawyers who are eager to get to Washington - regardless of what their campaign push cards tell you.

Arizona found itself in a place much like Oklahoma did a few years ago with HB1804.  The federal government has done virtually nothing at all to secure our borders and leaving the fence unfinished to our south has proven to be a laughable endeavor.  Since the federal government (which is Constitutionally responsible for immigration) has washed its hands of the problem, the states are left to do whatever necessary to ensure order be established.

Hopefully, the Supreme Court will see quite readily that the states have every right to enforce any law they choose regarding licensing and commerce within their borders. 

Here is the problem as I see it:  Both parties have proven to be ineffective on the issue of border security.  Why?  On one hand, the Democrats want the votes and on the other, the Republicans desire cheap labor.  It's a no-win situation for the American people who work hard to pay their taxes and contribute while others just stream across the border and take advantage of our weaknesses.  We simply cannot afford more of the same.  It is estimated to cost the United States taxpayers $300 billion a year and still, nothing is being done.

Right now, in the 5th District of Oklahoma, there are people running for Congress who today have a very different opinion about illegal immigration than they did a few years ago.  In my opinion, they stuck their fingers in the air and decided that if they want to garner favor with the voters of the 5th District, they have to begin looking like a hawk on immigration.  It is intellectual dishonesty and because the activists within the Republican Party seem to have forgotten from where they have come, candidates are allowed to get away with their flip-flopping that would make even John Kerry appear consistent.

You need an Independent voice in Washington - someone who is independent of the special interest groups of the moment who are continually courting and buying your candidates.  You need someone with independent leadership who is a pure fiscal and social conservative who doesn't need someone to write speeches and someone to poll and see what "the people" think is right about an issue.

This problem can be repaired.  We just have to have the courage to say "no" to Republicans and Democrats who take their talking points from special interests, talk a lot, but do little.

Come to my meet and greet this weekend and let's talk about it.

Dave